Chris Young's fan club follows Chris' example

                     Chris during the annual Country Cares for St. Jude Kids Seminar in Memphis in January (he’s playing Connect Four with a St. Jude patient). 

Chris Young has been helping raise money for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital since he was in grade school and is still a huge supporter of the hospital even to this day.  Since Chris is supportive of the hospital, so is his fan club.  They are currently supporting the hospital through the Country Fans Care for St. Jude Kids fundraising program.   

Country Fans Care is a friendly fundraising program involving the fans of country music and country music performers. The program unites fans and fan clubs from across the world to raise money for the lifesaving work of St. Jude. Through Country Fans Care, donations to St. Jude are made in honor of someone’s favorite celebrity. The program allows fans to show support for their favorite entertainer, while helping the kids of St. Jude at the same time. Fans can donate online in their favorite artist’s honor at www.countrycares.org/content/dsp_clubs.cfm.  

Below is an interview with Terri Thompson, who is president of the Chris Young Fan Club, in which she talks about the charity and what the fan club is doing. 

How did the Chris Young Fan Club become involved in Country Fans Care?  

Terri: Chris learned about St. Jude when he was 8 or 9 years old and saved his own money to donate to the hospital, even if it was only a few dollars. His family had friends with kids being treated at the hospital and he said if he was ever in a position to help them he would. Once the fan club was formed, St. Jude became known as Chris’s charity of choice for any fundraisers we did.

 What have been some memorable fundraisers organized by the Chris Young Fan Club?

Terri: We did a really fun karaoke night on a Chris Young cruise. For a cash donation, fans could choose a song from the catalog (everything from George Strait to the Backstreet Boys), dedicate it to anyone they wished and Chris would sing it. One of the funniest choices was a fan who asked him to sing the Scooby-Doo theme song, which he did. 

On another cruise we auctioned a pair of muddy jeans Chris wore on an ATV adventure in Jamaica. The jeans brought in more than $1,000 and the high bidder actually had them framed.  

Can you describe a particular moment or experience that really embodies the spirit of Country Fans Care for you? 

Terri: For me, it was two years ago at the annual fan club party when Chris expressed how he felt about his recent visit to St. Jude and how important the Country Fans Cares program is to him. It was a truly emotional moment for everyone present as he described the hospital as a happy place for the kids and how he hopes to one day raise enough money to cover the hospital’s operating expenses for one day. He spoke from the heart – this is not about recognition for Chris – and many of us were brought to tears.  

Does the Chris Young Fan Club have any upcoming fundraisers planned to benefit St. Jude?  

Terri: This year we are printing a cookbook with recipes submitted by Chris Young fans and family. The book will be sold during CMA Music Fest with proceeds going to St. Jude. This is a project anyone can be involved in and we hope to raise a lot of money for the cause. 

What would you tell fan club leadership and fans interested in becoming involved in Country Fans Care?  

Terri: Do it! Encourage your fan club members to join the Partners in Hope and make a donation – no matter how big or small – each month. Brainstorm as a group and come up with fundraising ideas they as a group would like to participate in because every little bit helps.

                    Chris with Jeanne Mack, who was the highest bidder of the muddy jeans that were auctioned off on a cruise (Terri mentions this in the interview). 

Thank you to Jessica for sending me all the info and basically putting this post together for me!